Confirmation of New SBA Administrator Sweet News for Small Businesses

Today̢'s confirmation of Maria Contreras-Sweet as the new administrator of the Small Business Administration is great news for the small business community, and is an important step toward strengthening small businesses and helping ensure their continued success. She is a proven champion of small businesses and her diverse background working to expand access to capital, encourage investment and promote job creation in the government, non-profit and private sectors will be a critical asset for her new role as SBA administrator, especially during these difficult economic times.

Contreras-Sweet has shown she understands the link between small employers and our overall fiscal success, and we̢'re pleased she'll be spearheading the SBA̢'s policies. We hope under her leadership, the SBA will continue to build on the good work of Karen Mills and Jean Hulit, place a strong focus on women and minority entrepreneurship and be a strong advocate for small businesses within the Administration.

"The small business community has been waiting for Contreras-Sweet's leadership for some time. We're very pleased lawmakers approved her nomination," said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. "We look forward to working with her on bolstering small business and promoting a strong economy."

"Maria Contreras-Sweet's track record of working with both the public and private sectors gives her tremendous insight in serving our nation's small business community," said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. "Ms. Contreras-Sweet is a practitioner, not a bureaucrat; she personally understands the top concern of all entrepreneurs, which is access to capital and credit. She is a close friend of the USHCC, with whom we have enjoyed a long, collaborative relationship. I have no doubt that Maria will be a strong ally and fearless advocate for American small business."